Time: 10:42am, Tuesday, 20 March, 2007
Actually made time to read this really good article http://news.independent.co.uk/people/profiles/article2369574.ece
Hmmm. Yes
ps and this where I am not...
Tuesday, 20 March 2007
[no title]
Location: Client HQ, Kuala Belait, Brunei
Time: 10:42am, Tuesday, 20 March, 2007
Actually made time to read this really good article http://news.independent.co.uk/people/profiles/article2369574.ece
Hmmm. Yes
ps and this where I am not...
Time: 10:42am, Tuesday, 20 March, 2007
Actually made time to read this really good article http://news.independent.co.uk/people/profiles/article2369574.ece
Hmmm. Yes
ps and this where I am not...
Sunday, 18 March 2007
:( i need a holiday
Location: Riviera Hotel, Kuala Belait, Brunei
Time: 9am (local time), Sunday, 18 March, 2007
Feeling: tired and sleepy
Yeah.... I am over it. Need a holiday. Dunwanna work. Have heaps of stuff to do before tomorrow and also write a self-appraisal. Did take time off yesterday and went to Bandar Seri Begawan (the capital). There's not much there, I have to say. I saw the villages on water (pretty cool), a bunch of cool mosques and the palace. I was done by 4pm. I only got there around 12 (after getting lost driving down - because no one has a freaking map of the place!). It was SO hot, I pretty much drove back and passed out. I thought - "just a quick power nap and then I'll get up and do work". Woke up at 1:30am and thought there's no point in getting up.
So here I am. Pile of work. Man, this post is so boring - I'm boring myself writing it. That's it. Am finishing. Maybe I'll post some pictures later to make it less of a drainer to read it...
But I am just so BORED. Is there ANYONE out there?!? I am not sure... I think this little oil town empties out on Sundays - not that there are a lot of people here during the week but a lot of contractors tend to congregate around here around nighttime after they get back from the rigs.
Time: 9am (local time), Sunday, 18 March, 2007
Feeling: tired and sleepy
Yeah.... I am over it. Need a holiday. Dunwanna work. Have heaps of stuff to do before tomorrow and also write a self-appraisal. Did take time off yesterday and went to Bandar Seri Begawan (the capital). There's not much there, I have to say. I saw the villages on water (pretty cool), a bunch of cool mosques and the palace. I was done by 4pm. I only got there around 12 (after getting lost driving down - because no one has a freaking map of the place!). It was SO hot, I pretty much drove back and passed out. I thought - "just a quick power nap and then I'll get up and do work". Woke up at 1:30am and thought there's no point in getting up.
So here I am. Pile of work. Man, this post is so boring - I'm boring myself writing it. That's it. Am finishing. Maybe I'll post some pictures later to make it less of a drainer to read it...
But I am just so BORED. Is there ANYONE out there?!? I am not sure... I think this little oil town empties out on Sundays - not that there are a lot of people here during the week but a lot of contractors tend to congregate around here around nighttime after they get back from the rigs.
Friday, 16 March 2007
Location: Client HQ, Kuala Belait, Brunei
Time: 12pm local time
Feeling: Stressed, a bit flat, could use a nap (as usual)
Oh man this project is busy. Everyone is running around at 200km/hr. Which is a great achievement given all the safety regulations in place - this is an oil and gas company, so everyone walking on the stairs has to hold the handrail, walk on the left hand side, not hurry, etc.
There is a lot of lingo to learn - hoists, CTU, nodding donkeys, turnkeys, wildcats, NPT, RDTL, ILT, GWDP, STL, maaaaaan. It's a different language.
The politics in this place...
Other than everyone speaking English (nice change), I haven't really noticed much difference to the BKK. It's been pretty much hotel-office-hotel for me - so that part hasn't changed much. Except that hotels here are sh!te. There is no customer service, people are hopeless and frankly just don't give a fark. I can't get room service (there is no food) at the hotel. I was so confused I had to check with reception. And at 5am there are loud prayers coming through the loudspeaker on street that wake me up when I don't close the window. Other than that, all you notice is lack of people. Or buildings. Really - there's pretty much NOTHING in KB. I'm going to check out the capital Bandar on the weekend - they made it look good in tourism brochures. Will see.
Also all the food here is halal (no pork) and there are no dogs on streets. Only cats. Both, pigs and dogs, are considered to be too dirty for muslims (I've been told anyway. Please correct me...) But apparently, they are not allowed to touch dogs or pigs. So when they have a dog on the police squad (eg drug sniffers), they have to get a Chinese person to be the dog handler.
*Sigh* Have to pretend I've re-grouped and get back to work.
Time: 12pm local time
Feeling: Stressed, a bit flat, could use a nap (as usual)
Oh man this project is busy. Everyone is running around at 200km/hr. Which is a great achievement given all the safety regulations in place - this is an oil and gas company, so everyone walking on the stairs has to hold the handrail, walk on the left hand side, not hurry, etc.
There is a lot of lingo to learn - hoists, CTU, nodding donkeys, turnkeys, wildcats, NPT, RDTL, ILT, GWDP, STL, maaaaaan. It's a different language.
The politics in this place...
Other than everyone speaking English (nice change), I haven't really noticed much difference to the BKK. It's been pretty much hotel-office-hotel for me - so that part hasn't changed much. Except that hotels here are sh!te. There is no customer service, people are hopeless and frankly just don't give a fark. I can't get room service (there is no food) at the hotel. I was so confused I had to check with reception. And at 5am there are loud prayers coming through the loudspeaker on street that wake me up when I don't close the window. Other than that, all you notice is lack of people. Or buildings. Really - there's pretty much NOTHING in KB. I'm going to check out the capital Bandar on the weekend - they made it look good in tourism brochures. Will see.
Also all the food here is halal (no pork) and there are no dogs on streets. Only cats. Both, pigs and dogs, are considered to be too dirty for muslims (I've been told anyway. Please correct me...) But apparently, they are not allowed to touch dogs or pigs. So when they have a dog on the police squad (eg drug sniffers), they have to get a Chinese person to be the dog handler.
*Sigh* Have to pretend I've re-grouped and get back to work.
Sunday, 11 March 2007
Preparing for departure
Location: Latrobe St Home, Melbourne
Time: 1pm (Melb time, I think)
Well, after managing to lock myself out of the apartment for the better part of the day, I am a little bit stressed. Must unpack. And then pack again. Make sure I don't take anything pink to Brunei and only take ugly underwear (items pink or feminine get stolen by the hotel laundry people. I have to lock my bras in a suitcase when I leave the hotel).
Anyway - must still finish off the old project, start on the new one and write my self-appraisal. Having managed to get into the apartment just after one pm it sounds like a piece of cake... not.
Time: 1pm (Melb time, I think)
Well, after managing to lock myself out of the apartment for the better part of the day, I am a little bit stressed. Must unpack. And then pack again. Make sure I don't take anything pink to Brunei and only take ugly underwear (items pink or feminine get stolen by the hotel laundry people. I have to lock my bras in a suitcase when I leave the hotel).
Anyway - must still finish off the old project, start on the new one and write my self-appraisal. Having managed to get into the apartment just after one pm it sounds like a piece of cake... not.
Thursday, 8 March 2007
another day
1:30pm (ish) 8 March, 2007
Location: Client office, Rama 3, BKK
Feeling: tired, bored, needing a holiday
Sigh. So yes - Brunei it is on Monday. Have booked my ticket. I don't really want to go. I kind of got comfortable here - finally got my client counterpart to (more) comfortably blab to me in English and become less scared (he seems a bit shy...) and now I have to move countries, move clients, move project teams. I dunwanna go. I have to be nice and make friends and build trust, respect and blah with the client, gotta make new job manager comfortable with my output, learn and adjust to their style of working and managing. It's all too hard. I wouldn't mind staying here where I know everything, everyone and how it all works. I am not bored yet... I think. (Well apart from today. Actually, if I see one more process map I may vomit...)
I can't seem to make myself do work today/yesterday. I have HEAPS to do but I can't make myself care... That's baaaad. I can see myself finishing work off for this on the flight home from BKK.
Other news... getting appraised again. Have to write a self-assessment.
Had a client function yesterday which finished late... Have a firm function tonight which will probably finish late. Sigh. I just want a nap!
Other topics I want to write about later (as I have to go and pretend to do work now...):
1) FFF (farken fitness first)
2) Post photos of the night of that incident (where they wouldn't let me into a bar because i was a female alone) and vent some more about it.
3) Umm. forgotten for now...
Item #2 - Photos from the night at Barsu (bar that opened at Sheraton Sukhumvit) - where door people discriminated against me in such a manner that ended up costing them about 6-7 bottles of French champagne, numerous Cuban cigars (see below), dozens of cocktails and fingerfood for 8 hungry people. Geesh, I should complain more often. However, I am still fuming and totally holding a grudge.
'Tis Lillian and Kareem smoking the free cigars and spreading the love. Also free.
Tis myself with Arthur and his wife, Barbara on the left. Arthur = boss on project (kind of) and has relocated to BKK with family for a year or two.
James, Barbara and myself...
Just me...
Location: Client office, Rama 3, BKK
Feeling: tired, bored, needing a holiday
Sigh. So yes - Brunei it is on Monday. Have booked my ticket. I don't really want to go. I kind of got comfortable here - finally got my client counterpart to (more) comfortably blab to me in English and become less scared (he seems a bit shy...) and now I have to move countries, move clients, move project teams. I dunwanna go. I have to be nice and make friends and build trust, respect and blah with the client, gotta make new job manager comfortable with my output, learn and adjust to their style of working and managing. It's all too hard. I wouldn't mind staying here where I know everything, everyone and how it all works. I am not bored yet... I think. (Well apart from today. Actually, if I see one more process map I may vomit...)
I can't seem to make myself do work today/yesterday. I have HEAPS to do but I can't make myself care... That's baaaad. I can see myself finishing work off for this on the flight home from BKK.
Other news... getting appraised again. Have to write a self-assessment.
Had a client function yesterday which finished late... Have a firm function tonight which will probably finish late. Sigh. I just want a nap!
Other topics I want to write about later (as I have to go and pretend to do work now...):
1) FFF (farken fitness first)
2) Post photos of the night of that incident (where they wouldn't let me into a bar because i was a female alone) and vent some more about it.
3) Umm. forgotten for now...
Item #2 - Photos from the night at Barsu (bar that opened at Sheraton Sukhumvit) - where door people discriminated against me in such a manner that ended up costing them about 6-7 bottles of French champagne, numerous Cuban cigars (see below), dozens of cocktails and fingerfood for 8 hungry people. Geesh, I should complain more often. However, I am still fuming and totally holding a grudge.
'Tis Lillian and Kareem smoking the free cigars and spreading the love. Also free.
Tis myself with Arthur and his wife, Barbara on the left. Arthur = boss on project (kind of) and has relocated to BKK with family for a year or two.
James, Barbara and myself...
Just me...
Monday, 5 March 2007
omg
10am ish
One word to describe how I feel this morning = aaaargh! 15 maps to do today! Cr@p!
4:30 pm ish (BKK time)
Hmm. Looks like I might be off to Brunei next monday. Where there is no beer and I can't wear my new bikini (no causal relationship there, btw). Argh!
Back to process maps, oh man...
PS just added a random picture of Thailand to see how it would look in this thing...
Sunday, 4 March 2007
lazy sunday :/
Sunday, 4 March, 2007
Time: 7pm ish (BKK time)
Location: 2219, Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit, BKK
Feeling: Stressed
Quick summary of the day's achievements yield:
1) 1 new bikini
2) $15 worth of stamps for an avid collector from mum's clinic (don't ask!)
3) a fall in public
4) 2kgs of mangosteen (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mangosteen) (Have never heard of it until Thailand and am now addicted - panic at the thought of what happens after Friday when I no longer have steady access to the fruit)
5) only 2 process maps :( :( :(
Time: 7pm ish (BKK time)
Location: 2219, Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit, BKK
Feeling: Stressed
Quick summary of the day's achievements yield:
1) 1 new bikini
2) $15 worth of stamps for an avid collector from mum's clinic (don't ask!)
3) a fall in public
4) 2kgs of mangosteen (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mangosteen) (Have never heard of it until Thailand and am now addicted - panic at the thought of what happens after Friday when I no longer have steady access to the fruit)
5) only 2 process maps :( :( :(
Saturday, 3 March 2007
Long time, no hear...
Saturday, 3 March 2007
Location: 2219, Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit, BKK
Feeling: nauseous, stressed
It's been a long time since I've written anything. I miss writing (a bit of variety in a time of process maps. I think I'm starting to think in rectangles, diamonds and trapezium process flows). However, I've just been totally swamped with work. This project is coming to an end (1 week left) and we need to finish everything. I shall not go into the exact quantum of the work I have to get through this (long for Thai people) weekend.
Went out last night with Lillian and her French friends. I had a couple of drinks (1 glass of champagne and 1 long island) - had to drink 4 bottles of water after that (still thirsty, just ran out of water) and feel like vomiting after breakfast (which clearly I should have skipped). I am getting to old for this sh!t. I also cannot explain my bizarre behaviour - I was talking to a cute English boy in a hat (tall, lanky - totally my type) and when it came to phone number exchange I just didn't give it to him... What's wrong with me? I was thinking ... aah i can't be bothered... And yet how can I lament the absence of a love life during the day and still have this mentality when it comes to the crunch... I wonder if it's subconscious something... Pffft! NOT impressed with myself...
And he was cute...
I do have one week left in Bangkok... Hurmph...
Location: 2219, Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit, BKK
Feeling: nauseous, stressed
It's been a long time since I've written anything. I miss writing (a bit of variety in a time of process maps. I think I'm starting to think in rectangles, diamonds and trapezium process flows). However, I've just been totally swamped with work. This project is coming to an end (1 week left) and we need to finish everything. I shall not go into the exact quantum of the work I have to get through this (long for Thai people) weekend.
Went out last night with Lillian and her French friends. I had a couple of drinks (1 glass of champagne and 1 long island) - had to drink 4 bottles of water after that (still thirsty, just ran out of water) and feel like vomiting after breakfast (which clearly I should have skipped). I am getting to old for this sh!t. I also cannot explain my bizarre behaviour - I was talking to a cute English boy in a hat (tall, lanky - totally my type) and when it came to phone number exchange I just didn't give it to him... What's wrong with me? I was thinking ... aah i can't be bothered... And yet how can I lament the absence of a love life during the day and still have this mentality when it comes to the crunch... I wonder if it's subconscious something... Pffft! NOT impressed with myself...
And he was cute...
I do have one week left in Bangkok... Hurmph...
Sunday, 11 February 2007
weekend work
Location: 2404, Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit, BKK
Time: 5pm ish (BKK Time)
Feeling: bored, stressed and full (ate too much or maybe just too quickly)
It's been a while since I've written anything... Quite busy at work. Deadlines next week and also have to fly to Syd for office meeting. And again flying to Syd the week after for training. Also had parents come over and visit for a few days. All combined - been busy...
I actually really have no news. Hate weekend work but geesh I've got so much to do.
I better get back to it, I suppose...
Maybe I'll manage to squeeze in a pool break if I work effectively for an hour or three....
ps Mangosteens are coming into season. I had a mangosteen-eating session yesterday, successfully finishing approx. 2 kgs... Have not had one since then...
Thursday, 1 February 2007
[no title]
Location: Client office, Rama III, BKK
Time: 1pm (ish)
Feeling: tired and sleepy
I miss being idle and lazy days - where you lie in bed and wonder what to do - read a bit, sleep a bit, wonder around city a bit, write a bit, shop, exercise.
I think it's called spare time.
Yep - that's what i miss. Having time when I have nothing that has to be done...
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